Yes I was keeping that in mind, but thought I needed to warn you if you intend to use this 29 gallon as a quarantine tank.
I understand your dilemma in regards to the lighting, but you need to know that the lights you mention for options are not going to work for a reef tank. I'm sorry, but they just don't produce enough light or the right spectrum for such a thing. It would cost you a lot more than $50/bulb for the proper CFL bulbs if you were to order hundreds of dollars worth of corals only to watch them die because they don't have the proper lighting.
I guess my advice to you has to be to consider a fish only tank for your 48 gallon tank, stay away from corals/reef setting. That would allow you to use a lower grade of lighting, however, the live rock should still have something appropriate for salt water or it isn't going to grow anything but troublesome algae. Even coraline algae needs proper lighting to grow on the rock.
I'm going to post some photos of my 75 gallon reef tank for you (taken today) and also 1 of my 29 gallon biocube taken just before I tore it down back in March to turn it into a quarantine tank.
I'm very sorry for you that your situation doesn't allow for keeping of a reef tank, that is very sad. But, it's better that you find out now before you waste a ton of money trying to do something that won't/can't work.
If there's anything more I can do to help please just ask.
Dawn
--- In AquaticLife@yahoogroups.com, Amber Berglund <arberglund@...> wrote:
>
> I hope you are keeping in mind that at the beginning I said this tank is
> only temporary until we get the 48 gallon over to my house (which has a
> proper stand built for it and a proper hood) but the light fixture that
> came with it is only a fluorescent T8 (single bulb) fixture, and I know
> that's not enough light at all.
>
> Amber
>
> On 9/22/2012 12:21 PM, dawnshungryeyes4u2c wrote:
> >
> > Hi Amber,
> > Let me begin by addressing your light fixture. While that is a clever
> > fixture and suitable for freshwater needs, I hate to say it, but that
> > is not going to work for a reef set up. Let me explain the reasons why...
> > First it doesn't have the correct bulbs in it. Compact fluorescent
> > bulbs are not all created equal. The type of bulbs needed if you
> > choose to go with compact fluorescent bulbs for this tank would be these:
> > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/fish-supplies/lighting/aquarium-compact-fluorescent-light-bulb-lamp/ps/c/3578/3733/8068
> >
> > Notice they have pins on them and do not screw in? That means,
> > unfortunately, they would need the proper fixture... which would look
> > like this:
> > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+9654+23507&pcatid=23507
> >
> > I'm sure you've looked at the cost of this type of fixture and bulbs
> > by now and are groaning... so let me offer you a less expensive
> > solution for your lighting. Take a look at the HO T5 fixtures suitable
> > for reef keeping...
> >
> > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+23590&pcatid=23590
> >
> > http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+23753&pcatid=23753
> >
> > HO T5 fixtures can be suited for freshwater or saltwater, it's just a
> > matter of what bulbs are put into it. If you order the fixtures suited
> > for marine/reef tanks they do come with the proper bulbs for a reef,
> > and these bulbs are typically easy to find for replacement once/yr.
> > (and yes, they do need replacing once/yr to avoid losing their
> > spectrum and intensity which will cause a host of problems in a reef
> > tank)
> >
> > Aside from the bulbs in your current fixture there are some other
> > reasons why it is not suitable for a reef. The height that it sits off
> > of the tank allows for far too much light loss... and if you look at
> > the photo you posted of the whole tank setup you can see how much
> > light is reflected on the wall behind the tank as well as onto the
> > tank sitting off to the side of this one. Corals, even the easy, lower
> > light needing species, need much stronger lighting than what this
> > fixture can offer you as well as a different spectrum than what the
> > current bulbs offer.
> >
> > Another problem with your current fixture is the wood as well as the
> > bulb's open exposure to salt creep. (and yes, salt creep can get that
> > high off of the tank) Not only will the salt eat through the wood of
> > your current fixture but it would also have the ability to get into
> > the sockets around those bulbs... which is a huge fire hazard.
> >
> > I hate having to give bad news and I hope you're not too upset... but
> > I wouldn't be helping you if I told you this fixture would work for
> > you. I don't want to see you have a fire in your home, nor do I want
> > to see you waste a ton of money in corals that will only die if added
> > to this set up as it is now.
> >
> > While studying your photos I also noticed another potential problem
> > that I need to make you aware of for safety's sake. I noticed that the
> > table this tank is sitting on is not an aquarium stand, and that the
> > edges of the tank hang over the ends of the table a bit. This tank, at
> > some point, will break if it remains this way long term. Saltwater is
> > heavier than freshwater, (it is more dense), which makes the risk of
> > cracking/breaking even higher. As you begin to sort out the other
> > problems such as correcting the substrate and adding enough live rock,
> > the weight of this tank is going to increase even further. The
> > manufacturer warranty on this tank has already been voided because of
> > the table it sits on, so if/when it breaks, there would be no way to
> > recoup your losses... both tank as well as damage expenses. 29 gallons
> > of salt water can cause an extreme amount of damage to your home.
> > Again, I mention this because I don't want to see you have to deal
> > with a disaster which is only a matter of time as this tank sits
> > currently. Aquariums are made to hold the weight of the things we
> > want/need to put into them, but only if they are braced properly to
> > accommodate the weight distribution.
> >
> > I liked your idea of using your bf's tank as a main tank and then
> > using this 29 gallon as a quarantine. That would be a good solution to
> > your quarantine problem without having to spend a ton of money...
> > however, to quarantine corals in this tank you would still need to
> > address the problems mentioned above. Corals without the proper
> > lighting for even a few days to a week will quickly begin to fade away
> > and die, and unlike plants in a fresh water situation, bringing them
> > back from near death is extremely difficult to impossible. Please
> > remember that corals are not plants, they are animals, and they have
> > very specific needs, both for lighting as well as water chemistry.
> > Dead/dying corals in a reef tank will quickly pollute the water and
> > affect everything else in the tank.
> >
> > So sorry to have to bring you "bad news" but as I said, my desire is
> > to help you and not see you go through the issues and expense that
> > would be coming your way without this information. The saltwater hobby
> > is not cheap because it is a much more exact science than freshwater,
> > requires much more specific types of equipment/lighting, and that
> > means it allows less room for error before disaster strikes. Making
> > mistakes is much more expensive in the marine hobby and can be much
> > more difficult to correct once it happens.
> >
> > Please let me know what else I can do to help you as you proceed.
> >
> > Dawn
> >
> > --- In AquaticLife@yahoogroups.com
> > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>, Amber Berglund
> > <arberglund@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Sorry I'm so late, had issues getting my computer to recognize my phone
> > > when I went to upload the photos. Took me hours. LOL.
> > > Anyways.
> > > I put the pictures up on the group page, I have 2 of the tank and
> > one of
> > > the light fixture.
> > >
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AquaticLife/photos/album/1965213528/pic/list
> > >
> > > Amber
> > >
> > > On 9/21/2012 12:06 PM, bill 1433 wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I hinted as much Dawn but I think for right now she's having
> > > > a time issue with work.
> > > >
> > > > bill in pa
> > > >
> > > > --- On Fri, 9/21/12, dawnshungryeyes4u2c
> > > > <dawnshungryeyes4u2c@
> > > > <mailto:dawnshungryeyes4u2c%40yahoo.com>> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: dawnshungryeyes4u2c <dawnshungryeyes4u2c@
> > > > <mailto:dawnshungryeyes4u2c%40yahoo.com>>
> > > > Subject: [AquaticLife] Re: Salt water tank
> > > > To: AquaticLife@yahoogroups.com
> > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Date: Friday, September 21, 2012, 3:42 PM
> > > >
> > > > Both light fixture and tank photos would help a lot. :-)
> > > >
> > > > Dawn
> > > >
> > > > --- In AquaticLife@yahoogroups.com
> > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>, Amber Berglund
> > > > <arberglund@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I'll get a picture of it after work today. I'm assuming you're
> > asking
> > > > > about the light fixture? I'll take some pics of the tank too, just
> > > > in case.
> > > > >
> > > > > Amber
> > > > >
> > > > > On 9/21/2012 5:24 AM, bill 1433 wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hi Amber,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yes, its been a while. A favor? Is there any way to get some
> > > > pictures of
> > > > > > this unit? I think Dawn would benfit too?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > bill in pa
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --- On Thu, 9/20/12, Amber Berglund <arberglund@
> > > > > > <mailto:arberglund%40gmail.com>> wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Amber Berglund <arberglund@
> > > > > > <mailto:arberglund%40gmail.com>>
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [AquaticLife] Re: Salt water tank
> > > > > > To: AquaticLife@yahoogroups.com
> > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > <mailto:AquaticLife%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > > > Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012, 10:33 PM
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I double checked the CFL (spiral kind) bulbs, they are each 42
> > watts,
> > > > > > and there are 6 of them. It's a custom made light fixture, not
> > one
> > > > that
> > > > > > was made for the tank. They are definitely daylight bulbs
> > (6700K), not
> > > > > > sure if I need a different spectrum for corals, I'm used to
> > freshwater
> > > > > > planted tanks. The live rock I have in the tank is one large
> > piece
> > > > that
> > > > > > weighs about 15 lbs. It seems very dense and was very heavy when I
> > > > > > lifted it out of the tank to move it to mine. I'm hoping to get
> > > > some of
> > > > > > the lighter live rock (some of them come in really pretty
> > colors of
> > > > > > algae growth on them too), I just can't afford it quite yet.
> > Our local
> > > > > > fish store only special orders saltwater fish/inverts so I'll
> > probably
> > > > > > be doing my own ordering off of aquabid or somewhere online,
> > as I will
> > > > > > get a better deal using my fedex account to ship stuff in.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It's a mixture of crushed coral and (what was once live) sand,
> > I may
> > > > > > have forgotten to say that, it's not ALL crushed coral. I'd say
> > > > it's at
> > > > > > least a 50/50 mix of sand/crushed coral. The sand I moved from my
> > > > > > boyfriend's tank was from an established (over 5 years) saltwater
> > > > tank.
> > > > > > Thanks for the tips on the water bridge idea, I'll probably
> > not do
> > > > that
> > > > > > now that I have more info on what could go wrong, but it was a
> > nice
> > > > > > thought to have the tanks connected.
> > > > > > Is a sump/overflow necessary for a saltwater tank? I had one
> > that came
> > > > > > with my 125 gallon tank, but I gave it away about a year ago,
> > so I no
> > > > > > longer have the sump box and powerhead that was in it.
> > > > > > As far as the equipment goes I have 2 filters running on the
> > tank, a
> > > > > > Rena XP (I think it's a XP 2), and a Magnum 350 canister
> > filter. I
> > > > also
> > > > > > have 2 extra powerheads that can be used in the tank if I need
> > > > even more
> > > > > > water flow for corals, I wasn't sure how much I need and the
> > > > powerheads
> > > > > > have been in the closet for about a year but they still work just
> > > > fine.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have a calcium test kit around here somewhere that I can
> > use, I just
> > > > > > have to find it, LOL.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks
> > > > > > Amber
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 9/20/2012 4:23 PM, dawnshungryeyes4u2c wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Amber, can you double check the info on the light fixture and
> > > > bulbs as
> > > > > > > well as the measurements of your tank please? Something in the
> > > > info is
> > > > > > > off... compact fluorescent bulbs don't come in 90 watt sizes
> > and a 6
> > > > > > > bulb fixture over a 29 gallon tank wouldn't fit. Not sure what
> > > > is off
> > > > > > > but would like to help you sort it out. Knowing for sure what
> > > > you have
> > > > > > > is important because it will determine what animals (corals)
> > you can
> > > > > > > keep in the tank. Can you tell me what is written on each of the
> > > > > > > bulbs? (the print directly on the bulb) There should be
> > letters as
> > > > > > > well as numbers there. That would help me to identify what
> > you have.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hermits can work with crushed coral but they tend to have a more
> > > > > > > difficult time finding enough food or keeping the substrate
> > cleaned
> > > > > > > up, especially if you are sticking to hermits that are reef
> > safe
> > > > (not
> > > > > > > all crabs are reef safe). You might want to consider
> > removing the
> > > > > > > crushed coral and making up the difference with live sand. This
> > > > can be
> > > > > > > done with a strainer where the sand can fall through but the
> > crushed
> > > > > > > coral pieces are too big and will remain in the strainer.
> > This would
> > > > > > > preserve the sand you have at present and then you'd only need
> > > > to add
> > > > > > > to it. Also, the sand in your tank that's mixed in now will
> > > > settle to
> > > > > > > the bottom under the crushed coral because it is smaller and
> > lighter
> > > > > > > weight, so using a tube to suck the crushed coral from the
> > > > surface may
> > > > > > > also be an option... depends on your ratio of each and how you
> > > > are set
> > > > > > > up. I suggest this now because it will make the long term
> > keeping of
> > > > > > > this tank much easier and because doing it now before you start
> > > > adding
> > > > > > > animals also makes the process easier.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I do not suggest connecting the tanks via some kind of
> > > > > > > tunnel/tube/bridge system. In a healthy saltwater tank there is
> > > > > > > coraline algae growth that will build up quickly, that's a good
> > > > > > > thing... however, it's very hard, can get very thick
> > quickly, and is
> > > > > > > near impossible to remove from a tunnel/tube type of
> > situation. Put
> > > > > > > simply, it would start out looking nice but would quickly be
> > crusted
> > > > > > > in coraline algae where you wouldn't be able to see through
> > it and
> > > > > > > then eventually it would slow water flow/circulation as the
> > coraline
> > > > > > > continues to build. If your intention is for the animals to be
> > > > able to
> > > > > > > pass back and forth through this "tunnel" from one tank to
> > another,
> > > > > > > again I say don't do it. There are so many things that will get
> > > > up in
> > > > > > > there and get stuck or begin to grow where you have no access to
> > > > > > > remove them, it would become a nightmare situation before long.
> > > > Things
> > > > > > > such as tube worms, aptasia, various forms of algaes,
> > bristle worms,
> > > > > > > etc. would all "live" in there and make for one heck of a mess.
> > > > If you
> > > > > > > know anyone who is running a saltwater tank at present, an
> > > > established
> > > > > > > tank that is at least 1+ yrs old with a sump/overflow system,
> > > > ask them
> > > > > > > if you can take a flashlight and peek into the overflow box
> > for a
> > > > > > > minute or 2 and you'll quickly see what I'm talking about.
> > If you
> > > > > > > don't know anyone where you can do this let me know and I'll
> > try to
> > > > > > > get some photos for you on this end. It's important for you to
> > > > > > > actually be able to see what I'm referring to.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have company due to arrive any moment now, but later after
> > they
> > > > > > > leave I will get out my camera and take some photos for you
> > of my
> > > > > > > saltwater tanks. One is a quarantine tank that I don't
> > really have
> > > > > > > anything in so I just let it do it's own thing and the other
> > is my
> > > > > > > main tank that is maintained daily. I will be able to then
> > show you
> > > > > > > some of the things to prepare for and watch out for as well
> > as avoid
> > > > > > > in your own tank. Every tank is different but there are some
> > things
> > > > > > > that are common about all marine set ups... and going in
> > unprepared
> > > > > > > can mean more work as well as more expense later. I'd hate to
> > > > see that
> > > > > > > happen for you.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I'll be back later.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Dawn
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > > > >
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